lead.encourage.inspire

Stuff

One of my favorite things to do in January, is to get rid of stuff. I am on a mission to simplify my life, so reducing the amount of stuff I have is at the top of my to-do list. It is time to purge closets, drawers, cabinets and even entire rooms. I love to organize, but some stuff can’t be organized. It just has to GO!!

While I was cleaning out the drawers in my bathroom recently, I learned a valuable lesson. I could probably corral every product and tool I use on a daily basis into one small drawer (scratch that, the hair dryer wouldn’t fit in a small drawer. That sucker is huge). However, I somehow manage to have 3 drawers and one large cabinet overflowing with stuff. They are full of junk (the worst type of stuff) that I rarely use, if ever. These items include, but are not limited to: shades of lip gloss that will NEVER look good on me, lipstick that I wore 10 years ago, samples of face creams that I keep meaning to try, various scrubs, lotions, potions and 15 spools of dental floss. Deep breath- now for the hair products: brushes I don’t use, old flat irons, 27 pony tail holders, 16 hair clips and 6 headbands. But wait, there’s more- a combined total of 32 bottles, tubes and tubs of the following: mousse, gel, straightening serum, curling serum, pomade, hairspray and dry shampoo.

So…. I pull out all of the drawers and open the cabinet. I assemble a throw away pile, a give away pile and a keep pile. From the keep pile, I set aside the things that I actually use, love and need the most. They are VIPs, if you will (very important products). Then, the inevitable begins, my brain tries to convince me to keep things that I will probably (definitely) never use. Once everything has (finally) been sorted, the items in the throw away pile are tossed in the trash and the give aways are placed in the trunk of my car. Next, things from the keep pile are put away. Lastly, it is time to place my VIPs in the most convenient and accessible spot a.k.a. prime bathroom vanity real estate (PBVRE). Darn it!! There is hardly any room in the PBVRE for my VIPs! I am literally “stuff”ing and smooshing my best and most important stuff into the limited space. My VIPs should be arranged beautifully in the PBVRE like pictures from my “get organized” and “master bathroom” Pinterest boards.

Then it hits me. How many other areas of life am I treating this way? How often am I spending time and energy on stuff that I don’t value very much and in turn sacrificing the stuff that matters the most? How many other spaces am I filling with “OK” and “so-so” stuff, leaving little to no room for my VIPs? How often am I “stuff“ing my VIPs in at the last minute because I have filled my schedule with stuff that has to GO?

What and who are your VIPs? The OK and so-so have to go! Your VIPs are worth it.

Be a blessing today.

If you need a little inspiration on how to deal with your stuff, check out this video from Gretchen Rubin. It’s an oldie but goodie. Her de-cluttering strategies and habits have been life changers for me.